NEWPORT, Maine — Work to rebuild three dirt roads will leave the town light in the wallet to repair paved roads.

Newport selectmen voted unanimously during Wednesday night’s meeting to accept the bid from F.C. Work and Sons of Jackson to rebuild Martin Stream Road, Pratt Road and Rutland Road at a cost of $83,744. It was the lowest bid of six returned to the town. The highest bid was $258,340.

The town set aside $173,106 for roads this year. Town Manager James Ricker estimated that only about $50,000 would be left to repair paved roads and sidewalks. That wouldn’t go very far, he said.

“We would have a very minimal paving budget. [It’s] almost to the point where we might patch a few places and work on some sidewalks with the money that we’ve got this year,” said Ricker.

The selectmen also looked over bids for the town’s Sebasticook Lake dam gate project. Newport’s Bowman Constructors was the lowest bid with $44,500, while CPM Constructors of Freeport was the highest at $103,700.

Although Bowman was the lowest bid, selectmen were hesitant to automatically give them the contract as Bowman Constructors hasn’t had much experience with dams. Their bid also didn’t include any diving, which the town requires.

The selectmen elected to table the decision until more research could be done on past projects by Bowman Constructors and the other bidders.

Ricker said if Bowman Constructors were given the contract, the project would cost a total of $128,000.